title: Rethinking research on forming typologies of homelessness.
abstract: In homelessness research and policymaking, it seems to be axiomatic that single adults experience 3 temporally based types of homelessness: chronic, episodic, and transitional. We discuss problems with the theorization of this typology and with the research design, data analysis, and time-aggregated conceptualization and measurement of temporality in the empirical work supporting the typology. To address the latter, we suggest a time-patterned approach to temporality and report a 10-group typology that differs significantly from the more familiar 3-group typology. We argue that which approach is used-and how typologies are developed more generally-should be based on theory and the uses to which typologies are put rather than on claims to being more true.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Social & Economic Research & Policy, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA. wm134@columbia.edu
authors.forename: William
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: McAllister
authors.forename: Mary Clare
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Lennon
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kuang
mesh_terms: D006703:Ill-Housed Persons / Q000145:classification*; D006801:Humans; D011050:Policy Making; D011634:Public Health; D012106:Research; D012107:Research Design; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D014481:United States